Men on Boats

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 5:30 pm at Rochester Art Center

Free and open to the public | Registration required

Reserve your spot by completing the online form:

https://forms.gle/73H5UjXuKDAM9L2SA

or call Rochester Art Center at 507-722-2552

Schedule of Events

5:30–6:30 pm | Open House Reception with refreshments

6:30 pm | Performance of Men on Boats (approximately 1.5–2 hours with brief intermission)

8:30 pm | Post-show talkback panel

Ten Thousand Things (TTT) presents Jaclyn Backhaus’s raucous and adventurous play Men on Boats at Rochester Art Center for one night only. This special performance marks the company’s first-ever production of the show, directed by Joy Dolo in her TTT directing debut.

The show follows a crew of explorers sent down a river by the American government to name and claim things that aren’t theirs to own — and they soon hit rough waters. Riffing on the history of an 1869 expedition through the Grand Canyon and played by a cast of people the first journey left out, Men on Boats is a raucous adventure that questions our mixed-up myths of masculinity and Manifest Destiny.

The cast features Jay Owen Eisenberg, Charli Fool Bear, Ashawnti Sakina Ford, Emjoy Gavino, George Keller, Elise Langer, Anya Naylor, Adelin Phelps, Maureen Sherman-Mendez, and Karen Wiese-Thompson. Music is by Walken Schweigert, costumes by Sarah Bahr, and scenic and props design by Sarah Brandner.

“The plot of the play follows ten actual historical cis white men, alien to the landscape they are exploring, as they adventure down a raging river and chaos befalls them,” says TTT Artistic Director Caitlin Lowans. “What the meaning of that plot becomes – when embodied by women, transmen and non-binary performers, by actors of color and Native actors, by the multiplicity of people who actually make up America – is why Men on Boats uplifts the big questions of who owns what, who gets to belong, and how.”

For Dolo, the show is a rebuttal to history that did not include people like her. “With a cast that mirrors our communities, I’m eager to explore the story of that Grand Canyon trip – with a twist. After acting with TTT for over a decade, I am grateful for the opportunity to direct this funny and heart-full story.”

Following the performance, join us for a talkback facilitated by Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities Artist in Residence Tane Danger.  The panel will feature members of Ten Thousand Things creative team and Mayo Clinic leaders from several employee resource groups.  This time is meant to offer an opportunity to reflect and promote understanding, dialogue, and community.

About Ten Thousand Things

Ten Thousand Things awakens the creative spirit of audiences and artists by bringing essential and exceptional theater to people from all backgrounds and life experiences. Theater-goers experience the immediacy and vibrancy of theater through a performance in which there is no stage and actors perform in the middle of the audience. With minimal sets and costumes, talented actors fully engage the audience by distilling the story to its essence.

Approximately half of the company’s award-winning shows are performed for paying public audiences and the other half are performed for free in locations where people may not have ample opportunities to see live, professional theater, including correctional facilities, shelters, English Language Learner centers, centers for individuals with disabilities, and low-income senior and youth centers.

Accessibility

Rochester Art Center strives to be welcoming and accessible for all people. The building has an elevator and three flights of stairs, and all spaces are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Service animals are welcome. A designated quiet space is available on the 3rd floor. Masks are available upon request and guests are encouraged to arrive fragrance free. A range of seating options are available around the building and during programs. There are two gender neutral restrooms located on the second floor. A printed script of the performance is available upon request. For more information please contact us: info@rochesterartcenter.org or 507-722-2552

This program is sponsored by Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine and Rochester Art Center.